BCDEDIT command in windows 7


Introduction


In this tutorial we will guide you how use the Bcdedit tool in windows 7 and how to manage the boot loader entries.


BCDEDIT require a boot loader file which will boot the system.


Here booting is a process that starts the operating systems when you turn on the computer system.


Boot sequence is the set of operation that computer perform when the power is switched on.


Boot loader loads the main O.S to the computer.


Boot loader can also be defined as the file which contains the required information which instructs the system to start an O.S.

• Windows 7 boot loader file is \bootmgr.


BCDEDIT will edit a file called bcd which is located in the windows 7 partition under \boot\bcd.


• Click on start menu.

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• Type “cmd” in search box in start menu.

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You have to make note that administrator login has to be done.

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• Type “bcdedit” and hit enter.

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• You can now just view the boot entries.

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The boot entry consists of 4 main elements.

• Identifier: The identifier identifies how the system has been named in the boot entry.

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• Device: The device is the virtual image or the drive which is used to boot the boot entry by the system.

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• Path: It is the location on the device in which the boot loader file can be found.

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• Description: The name given by you for the boot entry.



Some of the standard identifier UUIDs are

Current=it is the OS which will select boot at startup.

ntldr=it is the windows OS loader for XP.

default= it is the default OS which is selected to boot the PC.


Here you have to make sure to get the backup of bcd file and to get that type:

bcdedit/export c:\saveBCD

Here the above command will create the boot entry backup.

To undo the changes, type the following command

bcdedit/import c:\savedbcd